Youth Career Days

April 8, 2014

Topeka, Kan. – Field trips often teach students about the past, but an exciting new endeavor is showing kids their potential future. Every seventh grader in USD 501 will have an opportunity to tour the career programs offered at Washburn Tech, 5724 SW Huntoon St., during Tech’s Youth Career Days set from 9 to 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 2 p.m. on May 1, 2 and 5.

The initiative is a joint venture involving Washburn Tech, Topeka Public Schools and Topeka Downtown Rotary Club, which is paying for the transportation of nearly 1,000 seventh graders. Rotarians are not only covering the cost of shuttling buses to and from the district’s six middle schools, they also are helping with tours at Washburn Tech. In addition, the club annually provides scholarships for students attending Washburn Tech.

"The Rotarian 4 Way Test - Rotary's guide to applying ethics and integrity in all our individual actions - supports this project and we hope youth will be inspired in their future opportunity choices because of participating," said Joyce Martin, Downtown Rotary Club Vocation Chairwoman.

“We appreciate the support of the Downtown Rotary Club in Topeka to permit all 960 seventh grade students to tour programs at Washburn Tech,” said Eileen Caspers, 501’s general director of school and career programs. “The more exposure our students have to post-secondary opportunities, the better they can plan their high school courses to align with their career interest and prepare for the next step in their education.”

Washburn Tech, an affiliate of Washburn University, is a nationally recognized innovator in career and technical education. It offers 30 career programs in the areas of construction, health care, human services, technology and transportation. This high-tech, hands-on education can lead to rewarding, high-pay jobs.